Grief: Is Grief A Mental Illness?

As time goes by, more and more normal human experiences are being given labels, and what was part of life at one point in time, ends up being seen as a mental illness at another. For example: if one was experiencinganxietyin the past, they might believe that it is just part of life.

It is then not something they need to worry about, and they certainly won’t need to take anything for it. Yet, when someone experiencesanxietyin today’s world, they can end up being diagnosed as having some kind of disorder.

Inner Problem

As a result of this, one can end up being put on medication, and they can come to the conclusion that there is something inherently wrong with them. Their brain and biology is then playing up, and an external solution is required.

What is taking place externally is then overlooked, and there is no thought put into what it means to be human. One is then seen as being separate from their environment and normal human reactions are seen as abnormal.

Powerless

This approach can cause people to end up feeling powerless, and if they feel as though they have no control over their mental and emotional health, they are going to end up being dependent on others. And if they are not dependent on others, they could end up being dependent on medication.

It is then not possible for one to feel empowered, and as though they have the ability to change. The diagnosis is unlikely to make them feel more connected to themselves; they are likely to end up feeling even more disconnected.

Feedback

This is because one is not going to develop a healthy relationship with their mind and body. What is taking place within them is not going to be seen as something they need to pay attention to; it is going to be seen as something they need to remove.

If they ignore what is taking place within them, it can cause them to suffer even more, and this is partly because they are not going to look at how their environment is affect them. And if they are trying to change experiences that are a normal part of life, they can go against what it means to be human.

Agenda

Due to how parts of the medical profession approach mental and emotional health, it could be said that they have a hidden agenda. It would be interesting to find out what kind of relationship these kinds of people have with their own thoughts and emotions.

Perhaps they are so insulated from the real world that they have absolutely no idea what is it like to experience these so-called ‘mental illnesses’. Or it could be a sign that they are completely disconnected from themselves.

Disconnected

They are then out of touch with what it means to be human and it is then not possible for them to relate to their fellow human beings. If their heart is no longer influencing their life, it will be easier for them to act in ways that are inhuman.

In this case, how other people are being conditioned to relate to their own thoughts and feelings is a reflection of how they the people in authority relate to them. When someone reaches out for support, they are often in a desperate position, and this can make it easier for them to be manipulated.

New Additions

If something is classed as a mental illness, it is likely to be because it is listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5). Now, it is clear to see that diagnosing someone can allow them to receive the right assistance, but it can also set them up to experience more problems.

It is likely to a depend on if the right diagnosis is made, and if normal human experiences are seen as being a sign of mental illness, there is a strong chance that someone will end up feeling even worse. Instead of being given the right feedback, they can end up being given a label as opposed to receiving the guidance they really need.

When the latest addition was released in the middle of 2013, there were a number of new additions, and one of those wasgrief. Experiencing loss is then no longer a normal part of life, it is something that can cause someone to be labelled as having ‘’major depressive disorder’’.

It could be said that through being labelled in this way people will reach out for support instead of suffering in silence and they will understand what is taking place within them. However, there is also the chance that they will end up being put on some kind of medication and come to the conclusion that there is something inherently wrong with them.

Legitimate Suffering

And while taking medication may allow them to feel better, it can stop them from facing how they feel, and although this will be painful, it is what will allow them to move forward and find meaning once more. This is not to say that someone should never use medication to assist them with theirgrief; what it does take into account is that experiencing loss is part of being human.

The only way someone can avoid the pain of losing someone, is to stop themselves from getting attached to others. After someone experiences loss, they will be in a grieving process and in order for them to move forward, they will need to mourn.

Conclusion

How long this process lasts will depend on the person, and that is because we are all unique. To experiencegriefafter a loss shows that someone is simply human, and to say grief is mental illness is to redefine what it means to be human.

It can also cause someone to feel ashamed of how they feel after they have experienced loss, and this is going to make it even harder for them to undertake this process. They may come to believe that they should ignore how they feel and pretend that everything is fine.

Author's Bio:

Prolific writer, thought leader and coach, Oliver JR Cooper hails from the United Kingdom. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation; love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over seven hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behavior, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice. Current projects include "A Dialogue With The Heart" and "Communication Made Easy."